Koforidua, June 18, GNA- The failure of Ghanaians, particularly civil society and business groups to be actively engaged on the legislative process is hampering the effectiveness of Parliament to pass laws that can stimulate a more rapid growth of businesses in the country, Dr. Ben Kumbour, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) spokesperson on Finance, has said.
According to him, because the greater majority of Ghanaians, including identifiable entities do not follow the legislative process, they have no influence on the laws that are enacted, although some of those legislations end up stifling their businesses.
He said the situation was so depressing to the extent that, some Members of Parliament (MPs) helped enact laws without the faintest idea as to what was embedded in those legislations. He was, however hopeful, that with more effective constituents emerging to demand that, MPs dwell on the national interest rather than on partisan concerns, that state of affair would change for the better. Delivering a lecture on; 'the role of Parliament in the public policy process to a group of journalists in Koforidua on Wednesday, Dr. Kumbour therefore demanded that the electorate follow keenly the legislative process so that appropriate laws are passed to stimulate the economy. In particular, Dr. Kumbour urged business entities to form lobby groups so that they can articulate their concerns to the specific committees working on a bill so as to use the legislative process to promote rather than hinder businesses.
Dr Kumbour who is also MP for Lawra-Nandom said business associations must form lobbies to positively influence the legislatively process as is the norm in other jurisdiction so as to realize the potential of using the parliamentary process to stimulate development. Dr Kumbour said, although the potential impact of Parliament was tremendous because the passing of laws could engineer business growth as in reducing taxes or giving appropriate incentives for business growth, minimal representation was being made by to Parliament on those issues. Mr. Kofi Asante Frimpong, a business expert, said although 60 per cent of all businesses in Ghana operate in the informal sector and employ more than 93 per cent of workforce, they were beset with many managerial and technical problems, which the media must help address. The General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Bright Blewu, said the Association was teaming up with BUSAC fund and the KAB Governance Consult to create a cadre of journalists who would become advocates of businesses in the country to promote jobs.
